Can opener



3mm 14, 1932. Q J, MAIER 1,862,972

CAN OPENER Filed Nov. 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l I l lLlJl l Illlll! Car) @6015 Maia! I NVENTOR ATTORNEY5 June 14, 1932. c. J. MAIER CAN OPENER Filed Nov. 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L'ar/ Jawb M0129! INVENTOR ATTORNEY5 Patented June 14, 1932 PATENT. OFFICE GAB-L JACOB IMAIER, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS CAN OPENER Application filed November 7, 1930. Serial No. 494,150.

My invention relates to improvements in can openers, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a can opener of the type comprising principally a cutting blade and an associated handle, and in which the construction is such that the blade may be passed'through the top of a can and the top cut out by an oscillatory movement of the handle; the construction being further arranged whereby pressure upon the handle for cutting purposes is directed downwardly in the direction of the can rather than in the opposite direction to can openers relating to constructions embodying a blade fixedly associated with a handle.

A further object is to provide a can opener go in which novel gripping means is employed whereby an effective cutting action is attained, and in which the can opener may be easily manipulated and advanced to successive cutting positions along the top of a can. A further object is to provide a can opener employing a blade arranged to penetrate the top of a can and for cutting said top when said blade is moved upwardly in the direction of the can, and in which the blade is provided with means for limiting the move ment of the blade, thereby insuring accu'rac and ease in operation.

A further object is to provide a device of i the type described in which the blade is provided with a cutting edge arranged to make a.- clean cut and in close relation to the bead of the can.

A further object is to provide a device of the type described having means arranged for successively engaging the top of a can during the cutting operation in such a manner that a maximum cutting efficiency is attained with a minimum amount of pressure, and in which slipping of the device during the cutting action is entirely eliminated,

thus enhancing the positive action of the device. A further object is to providea device of the type described which issimple in construction, easy to assemble, and comprising adorable and fixed assembly.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation. partly in section, of a can opener embodying my invention, 7

Figure 2 is an enlarged view taken at-right angles to the View shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4: is a sectional view taken along the line 4 & of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a slightly difierent form of my invention, I

Figure 6 is a sectional View taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5, I

Figure 7 is a view in elevation of a further modification,

Figure 8 is a view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 7, Y

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 7, and

Figure 10 is a view showing a construction of my invention.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of a blade 1 having an integral shank portion 2 serrated as at 3. The blade 1 is associated with a guard member 4: having a similar shank 5, see Figure 2, which is aligned with the shank 2 and arranged to be received with-' in an opening in a handle 6. The shank 5 is serrated in the same manner as the shank 2 and the two shanks, when the handle is placed thereon, are bent in the direction of each other, as indicated in Figure 2. The shank construction is such that the handle 6, when once placed thereon, will be firmly connected with the blade and-the guard.

The inner end of the handleis provided with a ferrule 7 positioned against a guard plate 8. The latter is provided with apai'r of openings 9 and 10 for receiving the blade 1 and the guard 4, respectively. These two elements are rigidly held in spaced-apart re- 100 single blade 7 lation by reason of the openings 9 and 10. The blade as well as the guard may be provided with a shoulder 11, against which the guard plate may be positioned, see Figure 1. The blade and the guard are provided with laterally extending portions 12 and 13 having teeth 14. The members 12 and 13 may be riveted or bolted together as indicated at 15 in Figure 4. The members 12 and 13 provide a ledge 16 against which the guard plate 8 may bear when the device is assembled as shown in Figure 1.

It will be noted in referring to Figure 1 that the outer ends of the teeth 14 are an ranged in an arc. The points ride upon the bead of the can during the cutting process.

In operation, the blade 1 is caused to pierce the top of the can when the device is held in a vertical position. At this time, the tooth 14 nearest the blade 1 will of course engage the bead of the can. The handle 6 is then tilted in the direction of an arrow 17 at which time the cutting edge 18 upon the blade will be caused to be moved through the can top. When the blade 1 is passed through the top, the guard 4 will be disposed upon the outside of the can in close relation to the side of the same and in parallelism with the latter. The guard 4 is arranged in such relation with the blade 1 that when the latter is passed through the can top, the entire device is advantageously associated with the can and particularly against lateral movement with respect thereto. As the handle 6 is tilted from the vertical to the angular position, the teeth 14 successively engage the can bead.

The teeth tend to become embedded in the bead in such a manner that a maximum frictional contact and anti-slipping action are provided. At the same time, the blade 1 cuts the can when the handle 6 is moved downwardly. This action permits downward pressure to be applied upon the handle, whereby the top may be easily cut with a minimum exertion. In can openers embodying a combination of a fixed blade and handle construction, the cutting action of the blade is eflective, while the handle is being lifted, rather than when pressure is being exerted thereon. The can tends to assume a'fixed position by reason of the cutting action upon the downward movement of the handle. At the same time I have eliminated the necessity for firmly gripping the can for holding it against shifting due to any lifting influence during the cutting action of the blade.

The guard plate 8 is of sufficient area to protect the operators fingers and hand against injury during the operation of the can opener. The blade 1 is notched as at 19 for providing a shoulder 20 which tends to engage the top of the can during the cutting action in such a manner that the movement of the handle 6 is limited when the blade has substantially completed its cutting action.

The shoulder prevents the blade from being lifted out of the can proper. Thus it will be seen that when once the blade has been passed through the top of a can, the can opener will remain in operative assembly therewith until the top has been completely out out. The cutting edge 18 is ground in such a manner that the blade tends to cut close to the bead of the can and to adjust itself to cans of various diameters. The outer point of each of the teeth 14 functions as a fulcrum during the tilting of the can opener.

In Figure 5, I have shown a slightly different form of my invention in which a single blade 21 is associated with a handle 22 and a guard 23. The blade 21 is provided with a laterally extending member 24 which constitutes a strap of material bent as indi cated in Figure 6 and comprising a series of staggered engaging points or edges 25. These points are arranged in an arc. The blade in the instant form is notched at 26. No guard is associated with the blade. The operation of course is substantially identical with that described in connection with the structure shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive.

A further modification is indicated in Figures 7, 8, and 9. This form comprises a gripping member 27 simulating a loop and formed integrally with a body portion 28 which is preferably formed from strap material. The body portion is ofi'set as at 29 and again at 30.

The ofiset portion 29 receives a portion of a cutting blade 31 which is secured thereto by means of bolts or rivets 32. One of the rivets 32 passes through a hollow extended member 33 in a guard plate 34. The oifset portion 30 provides a guard 35 which functions substantially identical with the guard 4 above described. The blade 31 is provided with a staggered series of fulcrums 36, see Figures 8 and 9. The fulcrums comprise an integral structure, which, as will be seen in referring to Figure 9, is formed similarly to the formation of the fulcrum structure disclosed in Figure 6.

Figures 5 and 6 relate to a blade construction apart from a guard element. A similar construction is disclosed in Figure 10. In this construction, I provide a blade 37 which may be associated with a handle 38 and a guard plate 39. The blade 37 is provided with a series of fulcrum elements 40 which are arranged in an arc and provided with concaved fulcrum edges 41. These edges ride upon the head of the can when the blade is passed therethrough. This construction is one which permits the can opener to be efiectively associated with the bead of the can during the cutting operation. The bead of course is disposed within the concaved construction.

All of the blades are formed as at 42 for providing an offset portion. The ofi'set portion is upon that side of the blade closest to the side of the can during the cutting operation. The offset portion may be formed by depressing a portion of the blade. This portion may also be formed by adding material or building up one side of the blade. It is also to be understood that blades formed without such portions are also intended to be within the scope of the present invention. During the cutting operation, the portion 42 engages with the edge of the top which remains with the can in such a manner that the edge is bent or folded naturally against the side of the can. This function permits a cut to be made in such a manner that projecting burs, sharp edges, and the like are entirely eliminated.

In referring to Figure 2 as an example, it will be noted that the portion 42 is formed in such a manner that the blade may be easily passed through the top of the can and, when the blade is passed therethrough, the edge of the top remaining with the can is naturally folded against the side thereof. The remaining edge is folded incidentally during the cutting operation. The portion 42 is of course proportioned consistently with the cutting edge so that a minimum edge remains upon the can. The drawings are of course considerably enlarged for the purpose of illustration.

I claim:

1. A can opener comprising a handle, a blade, a guard for said blade, and a slotted guard plate separating said guard and said blade at the inner end of said handle, said blade and said guard each having an integral shank extending into said handle and converging together and rigidly secured to each other at their upper end, said blade and said guard each having integral therewith laterally extending portions fixedly secured together beneath said guard plate, said laterally extending portions each having an'upper edge abutting against said guard plate and having a lower edge serrated and adapted to serve as a fulcrum point.

2. A can opener comprising a handle, a blade, a guard for said blade, and a slotted guard plate separating said guard and said blade at the inner end of said handle, said blade and said guard each having an integral I serrated shank extending into said handle and converging together and rigidly secured to each other at their upper end, said blade and said guard each having integral therewith corrugated laterally extending portions fixedly secured together beneath said guard plate, said laterally extending portions each having an upper edge abutting against said guard plate and having-a lower edge serrated and adapted to serve as a fulcrum point.

' CARL JACOB MAIER. 

